Microsoft and TomTom Smoke Patent Peace Pipe

The Redmond giant and the Dutch navigation company have agreed on a settlement whereby TomTom will pay Microsoft for the use of some of its patents.

The eight Microsoft patents that are part of the agreement relate to car navigation and file management systems, according to a Microsoft press release. TomTom agrees to remove two of its file management functions covered by Microsoft's FAT LFN patents over the next two years. On the other side, TomTom will allow Microsoft to use technology in four patents that they claimed Microsoft violated in a countersuit. During the five-year term that covers past and future sales, Microsoft will not need to compensate TomTom. Neither of the two former rivals disclosed the amount TomTom agreed to pay.

Peter Spours, director of IP strategy and transactions at TomTom, had this to say: "This agreement puts an end to the litigation between our two companies. It is drafted in a way that ensures TomTom's full compliance with its obligations under the GPLv2, and thus reaffirms our commitment to the open source community."

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